Almana Shchora
Encyclopedia
Almana Shchora is a heavy metal
band originating from Tel Aviv
, Israel
.
In 1992, the band went into Eshel Studios to self-record and produce their debut album, but this album was eventually left unreleased, and the band started working on a new album altogether. In 1994, the band released their first single, "תסתכלי לי בעיניים" (Look into My Eyes) which was set to appear on their first album but was not included in any of the band's albums.
In 1995, the band was signed by Journey Records and started to work on their debut album. Their first self-titled album was released on February 14, 1997. Produced by Infected Mushroom
guitarist Erez Netz, the album proved to be a commercial failure, though it gained the band a lot of loyal fans, and made the band popular in the Israel
i heavy metal
scene. Since the release of the album, and until 1997, the band toured Israel and played a lot of shows all around the country, up until the departure of founding members Avi Mualam and Itzik Ovadiya in 1998. The band toured with Ifa'at Netz (sister of the band's album producer Erez Netz) on bass, and Yael Cohen on drums, of Israeli all-female band alternative rock
band Ha-Machshefot (from Hebrew: The Witches), until 1999, the departure of the band's frontman Assi Hason.
In 2001, Eli Zulta re-assembled the defunct band with a new line-up, adding keyboardist Adosh (Nir Rechani), lead guitarist Nanek, bassist Yagel Cohen and drummer Yaniv Rozenfeld. Zulta himself switched duties from guitars to lead vocals. He has previously sung lead vocals on 2 songs on the band's debut album.
In 2003, the band started writing material to a new album, to be titled Phantom Pain. The band started recording songs and demos for the album since in 2004 in their own home studio, with the first single "הבריחה" (The Escape) being released in 2005, with the album having no release date at the time. It was then that drummer Yaniv Rozenfeld was replaced with Ha-Meteor (Yair Hanania).
In 2006, the band was signed by Zaza Recordings and started to record the album properly in 2007 at Zaza Studios in Tel Aviv
, with producer Liron Sheffer. The second single from the album – "זמן מלחמה" (It's War Time) was released on March 17, 2007.
The band then announced that the new album will be released around spring of 2008, though it was again delayed. A new single was released though, "דם צפרדע" (Blood, Frogs) – the third single from the album – was released on April 16, 2008. On October 31, 2008, the band was the opening act for ex-Nightwish
singer Tarja Turunen
on her first solo show in Israel
at the Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center in Tel Aviv
.
After many delays, the band's second album Phantom Pain was released on March 21, 2010. It is the band's first album with Eli Zulta on lead vocals and unlike the first album's glam metal
sound, the second album's sound consists of a mix of hard rock
, heavy metal
, alternative metal
, metalcore
and hardcore
, all combined in a modern heavy metal
sound.
On September 28, 2010, the band participated in the 2010 edition of Ozzfest
taking place at Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv
, Israel
, playing alongside Ozzy Osbourne
, Korn
, Soulfly
and Betzefer
.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band originating from Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
History
The band was founded in 1991 and stay active until these days as well, Although the only surviving original member of the band is the guitarist and founder (and now also lead vocalist) Eli Zulta, who wrote and sang most of the songs. It was formed in 1991 by guitarist and occasional vocalist Eli Zulta, lead vocalist Assi Hason, bassist Avi Mualam and drummer Itzik Ovadiya.In 1992, the band went into Eshel Studios to self-record and produce their debut album, but this album was eventually left unreleased, and the band started working on a new album altogether. In 1994, the band released their first single, "תסתכלי לי בעיניים" (Look into My Eyes) which was set to appear on their first album but was not included in any of the band's albums.
In 1995, the band was signed by Journey Records and started to work on their debut album. Their first self-titled album was released on February 14, 1997. Produced by Infected Mushroom
Infected Mushroom
Infected Mushroom is an Israeli psychedelic trance DJ act and electronic group originally formed in late 1997 as a duo by producers Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani in Haifa...
guitarist Erez Netz, the album proved to be a commercial failure, though it gained the band a lot of loyal fans, and made the band popular in the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
scene. Since the release of the album, and until 1997, the band toured Israel and played a lot of shows all around the country, up until the departure of founding members Avi Mualam and Itzik Ovadiya in 1998. The band toured with Ifa'at Netz (sister of the band's album producer Erez Netz) on bass, and Yael Cohen on drums, of Israeli all-female band alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Ha-Machshefot (from Hebrew: The Witches), until 1999, the departure of the band's frontman Assi Hason.
In 2001, Eli Zulta re-assembled the defunct band with a new line-up, adding keyboardist Adosh (Nir Rechani), lead guitarist Nanek, bassist Yagel Cohen and drummer Yaniv Rozenfeld. Zulta himself switched duties from guitars to lead vocals. He has previously sung lead vocals on 2 songs on the band's debut album.
In 2003, the band started writing material to a new album, to be titled Phantom Pain. The band started recording songs and demos for the album since in 2004 in their own home studio, with the first single "הבריחה" (The Escape) being released in 2005, with the album having no release date at the time. It was then that drummer Yaniv Rozenfeld was replaced with Ha-Meteor (Yair Hanania).
In 2006, the band was signed by Zaza Recordings and started to record the album properly in 2007 at Zaza Studios in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, with producer Liron Sheffer. The second single from the album – "זמן מלחמה" (It's War Time) was released on March 17, 2007.
The band then announced that the new album will be released around spring of 2008, though it was again delayed. A new single was released though, "דם צפרדע" (Blood, Frogs) – the third single from the album – was released on April 16, 2008. On October 31, 2008, the band was the opening act for ex-Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
singer Tarja Turunen
Tarja Turunen
Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
on her first solo show in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
at the Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
.
After many delays, the band's second album Phantom Pain was released on March 21, 2010. It is the band's first album with Eli Zulta on lead vocals and unlike the first album's glam metal
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
sound, the second album's sound consists of a mix of hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
, heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
, metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
and hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
, all combined in a modern heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
sound.
On September 28, 2010, the band participated in the 2010 edition of Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
taking place at Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, playing alongside Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
and Betzefer
Betzefer
Betzefer is an Israeli groove metal band, originating from the communal settlement Maccabim-Re'ut. The band was formed up in 1998 and was signed to Roadrunner Records from 2005 to 2007...
.
Band lineup
- Eli Zulta – lead vocals, occasional guitar (1999–present) guitar, vocals (1991–1999)
- Nanek – guitar (2001–present)
- Adosh – keyboards, backing vocals (1991–present)
- Yagel Cohen – bass(2001–present)
- Ha-Meteor – drums, percussion(2005–present)
Former members
- Assi Hason – lead vocals (1991–1999)
- Avi Mualam – bass, piano, keyboards, backing vocals (1991–1998)
- Itzik Ovadiya – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1991–1998)
- Yaniv Rozenfeld – drums, percussion (2000–2005)
- Ifa'at Netz – bass, backing vocals (1998–1999)
- Yael Cohen – drums, percussion (1998–1999)
Discography
| Release date | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Almana Shchora | Journey Records |
| 2010 | Phantom Pain | Zaza Recordings |